Articles in the annual report include: the supply of building materials for a Hostel for Blind Women (courtesy of guest speaker Hon. Clive Evatt), inability to secure a holiday property has resulted in a holiday benefit fund being established to pay the costs for a blind person and their guide, the upcoming addition of an Occupational Therapist on staff, to establish an Honour Roll for outstanding services to the blind, the continuance of the 'Glow Worm' radio broadcast on 2GB, and that despite good sales, manufacturing continues to run at a loss compared to commercial factories.1 volume of text and imagescorporation records, royal sydney industrial blind institution, k l barry, j eyre, e vance

Articles in the annual report include: excitement around the acceptance of Helen Keller to visit Australia under the auspices of the Institution, establishment of an Occupational Therapy Department for crafts, additional of Rivis Mead to the Honour Roll, difficulties in securing materials and stoppages due to shortages in utilities, popularity of talking book machines, recruitment for volunteer drivers to help Home Teaching department and continuing success of 2GB 'Glow Worm' radio program.1 volume of text and imagescorporation records, royal sydney industrial blind institution, rivis mead

Articles in the annual report include: opening of the only nursery for blind babies and children at Victor Maxwell House, a new Braille shorthand class, the erection of an Occupational Therapy Department building, the development of a new switchboard operation course, a trial of long-term prisoners producing Braille has resulted in 83 being created, a profile on the late Jean Currie and appointment of Coral Cook in that position, awarding of an MBE to R.W. Kippax (who has occupied many positions at the Institution), thanks to A.F Toll for the free transport of Braille volumes and the Black and White Committee on another outstanding Ball, and the success of the NSW Blind Cricket Club and the young women at Helen Keller hostel forming the Amazons Blind Girls Sports Club.1 volume of text and imagescorporation records, royal sydney industrial blind institution, jean currie, black and white committee, nsw blind cricket, coral cook, r.w. kippax, victor maxwell kindergarten

Formed in 1951, this register contain the minutes of the Executive Committee. The meetings were held in the premises of various blindness agencies around Australia. The Australian National Council for the Blind (ANCB) was formed in 1951. 11/11/1953 The Secretary reported that the ANCB had been admitted to full membership of the World Council for the welfare of the Blind and welcomed to being a body whereby matters appertaining to Blind welfare work throughout the world may be referred to the various organisations in Australia through this source. 1 volume of glued pagesroyal victorian institute for the blind, sydney industrial blind institution, queensland industrial institute for the blind

Annual reports produced by the SIBI, informing their subscribers and the general public of the good work undertaken by the Institute and the ongoing need for funding. Information provided included income, expenditure, fund raising, staff, services, etc. Below is a summary of other information contained in the reports. 1902 - Trades at which the blind are employed, extracts from visitors books, balance sheets, supplementary catalogue of books in library, subscription and donation lists by town, constitution of the institution and rules, sick fund rules and balance sheet. Also noted were the impending installment of a printing press for books, the development of blind distributors of tea beverages and that instead of a blind boys home, boys would instead be sent to board with suitable families. 1933 - A list of braille transcribers and the amount of braille produced, a brief report on the Floral Festival organised by the Women's Auxiliary Committee and the donation of a shop in George Street for 12 months for the selling of articles made by the Blind was provided by a SIBI committee member. 1934 - A brief report on the hostels at William Street and Woollahra, a detailed listing of all functions which raised money through the auspics of the auxiliaries, and a visit by Superintendent Hedge and Librarian Mr Thompson to the Croydon Ladies Social Club. 1938 - A radio show called the 'Glow Worm Session' on 2GB with home teacher Roy Kippax, the 150th anniversary of Sydney celebration and a 16 millimetre film that was made to publicise the Institute's work. 1939 - A record amount raised through the sale of goods made by Blind Workers, the refurbishment of "The Haven' at Woollahra and transfer of residents from William Street, and free admission by the Trocadero and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to swing concerts and 'Broadway Serenade'. 1940 - Incorporation of the Institute's Women's Magazine into Boomerang Magazine, the enlistment of two Board members Cohen and Meeks for active service, and a brief report from each of the branch auxiliaries. 1941 - The difficulty of obtaining stereotype Braille items from London and the passing of the editoress of the Women's Magazine Miss L.E. Hudson who had just completed the final edition. 1942 - Employment of 60 blind men and women in war related industries, the purchase of an air raid shelter and the small size of the report due to the shortage of paper. 1943 - Closure of the Basket department due to government regulations on cane stock, the provision of a lunch hour news service provided by visitors and individual reports from each of the Ladies Auxiliaries. 1944 - Presentation of a revolving chair to Honorary Librarian Mr H.W. Thompson for 35 years of service, the filling in of air raid trenches due to the improvement of the wartime situation and that SIBI had been supplying the Royal Australian Navy with mats, brushware and other products. 1945 - Continued placement of blind workers in outside industries, the compilation of a register of blind citizens and the election of the Hon. Justice Maxwell as President. 1946 - The successful application for Royal assent and the subsequent name change of the insitution, the intervention of Hon. Member C.R. Evatt Minister for Housing regarding the building of a new hostel for blind women and the establishment of an Honour Roll with a description of inductees Mrs K.L. Barry, Mrs J. Ayre, Mrs E. Vance . 1947 - Establishment of an occupational therapy department, the acceptance of Helen Keller to visit the society and the induction of Mrs Rivis Mead to the Honour Roll. 1951 - Passing of Librarian Miss Jean Currie and the use of prisoners to transcribe materials into Braille.Single volumes with various pagings, illustrations

Rose pink satin scroll with names of donors printed upon it rests inside a brown wooden box. A plastic cover protects the scroll, and printed upon this is an image of the stone archway (from the first building housing the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution) as well as the words 'The Presidents Club'. To view the scroll, turn the handles up or down. List of names represents people who donated to an appeal (date unknown). Box was designed to be mounted on a wall.Wooden box with satin scroll of printed namesThe Presidents Clubroyal blind society of nsw, fundraising

A series of early twentieth century photographs were sourced and reprinted on to chipboard panels for use by the Royal Blind Society of NSW publicity department, to demonstrate the work and activities that blind people did at the Sydney Industrial Blind Institute (later RBS NSW, now Vision Australia). The source of these photographs is unattributed and the remaining panels of the set have not been located.Working Braille shorthand machine - Panel 11, Photo 13 A corner of the girls' sitting room - a lesson in Braille music (blind pupil and blind teacher) - Panel 1, Photo 2 The Industrial Blind Institution, Boomerang Street, Sydney. No.1 workshop, east side - basketmaking - Panel 2, Photo 3royal blind society of nsw, education, employment

158 pages with illustrations on CDnon-fictionBrief history of the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution, which later became the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales, under the leadership of Henry Hedger and Sir Paul Cullen.sydney industrial blind institution, royal blind society of nsw

Watercolour by Lin Ditchfield of the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales (formerly the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution) in William Street, Sydney. Built in 1880, the Edmund Blacket designed building was eventually sold in 1971. Located on the corner of William Street and Boomerang Place, the site was keenly sought by developers as the city landscape transformed into high rise office builidings, as evidenced in the background of this painting.1 water colour in beige frameLin Ditchfield 1971royal blind society of new south wales, lin ditchfield

This oil painting of the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution (later Royal Blind Society of New South Wales) at William Street was painted by F.R. Fowler in 1976. It was inspired by an original drawing done by Adam Stephan c1890. The building was erected between 1876 and 1879 and was designed by Edmund Blacket. It was funded through a generous bequest by John William Wood. The Institution provided the first employment training in NSW for people who were blind or vision impaired.Oil painting in wooden frame with nameplate at baseThe Sydney Industrial Blind Institution 1879f.r. fowler, sydney industrial blind institution, artwork